FIFA is threatened with legal trouble shortly before the World Cup: The attorney general’s offices of New York and New Jersey have announced an investigation into FIFA’s ticket sales.
The Attorneys General of New Jersey and new YorkJennifer Davenport and Letitia James, sent a request to the world association for information about ticketing practices, according to a statement. The World Cup final will take place in New Jersey on July 19th.
“FIFA has turned World Cup ticket purchasing into a veritable labyrinth of confusion, artificial scarcity and exorbitant prices – all at the expense of consumers.”said Attorney General Davenport in a statement. “We will thoroughly investigate FIFA’s actions. We are honored to host the World Cup. But this is not an invitation to exploit our residents and visitors.” California’s Attorney General Rob Bonta had previously sent a letter to the world association to examine possible violations of California consumer protection law.
FIFA declined to comment when asked by Sportschau.
“New Yorkers deserve a fair shot at affordable tickets”
The investigation will investigate reports that fans were misled about seating locations and disadvantaged by aggressive, demand-driven pricing, in which prices increase based on sales. It is the principle “Dynamic pricing“, where the ticket price is largely based on demand.
The debate is mainly about the final MetLife-Stadium in New Jersey just outside New York, overall take place in the NFL stadium in New York Giants and Jets eight World Cup games took place. FIFA charges $225 for parking spaces. In addition to tickets, public transportation from New York to the stadium costs more than $100. The providers set the high prices because, according to them, FIFA should pay for them. FIFA rejected this, saying it was also unusual at other major events.
“New Yorkers have waited years for the World Cup to come to their neighborhood and they deserve a fair shot at affordable tickets”said James, the state’s attorney general: “No one should be manipulated into paying exorbitantly high prices for seats and fans should be confident that they will receive the tickets they purchased.”
The background is media reports that tickets were sold based on certain seating categories shown on stadium maps. These categories are said to have been changed later before specific places were allocated. Many fans were suddenly given worse seats than expected.
Money is what matters most National associations
FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended ticket prices for the World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada at the beginning of the month. “We have to look at the market – we are in the market where the entertainment industry is the most developed in the world. So we have to apply market prices”he said. FIFA repeatedly emphasizes that most of the money will flow back to football. The 211 national associations such as the DFB benefit significantly from this.
The associations have the right to vote in the election of the FIFA president, Infantino is up for re-election next year.
